by Markku Löytönen (Author), Riikka Jäntti (Illustrator), Christina Saarinen (Translator)
The fascinating untold story of Pehr Kalm, Finnish-Swedish scientist and explorer of North America, who was sent by his teacher, the famous Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus, to observe the continent and collect samples of the plants and animals of the New World. Kalm's journey provided critical data for Linnaeus's growing taxonomy. Kalm's expedition to the English and French colonies and through the wilderness of New York and southeastern Canada culminated in an astonishing trip to Niagara Falls in 1750, when Kalm became the first scientist to visit and study the falls. His ground-breaking report was published by Benjamin Franklin. This beautifully illustrated book will take you on Kalm's long and extraordinary journey, revealing the people, plants and animals he discovered along the way, enriched by passages from Kalm's own travel journal. The story of this pioneering visitor to North America is sure to give readers a new perspective on the history of Western New York and Southern Ontario.
Author Biography
Christina Saarinen grew up in Buffalo, New York, not far from Niagara Falls. She has also lived in Turku, Finland, in an apartment overlooking an oak tree said to have grown from an American acorn planted by Pehr Kalm. A graduate of Byrn Mawr College and the University of Helsinki, Christina lives in Buffalo with her husband and son.